Why I liked Kriminal Sa Barrio Concepcion much much more than Tuhog?

I watched two movies today, and even though I wasn't exactly sober when I saw both movies, I can honestly say that I loved Kriminal sa Barrio Concepcion much much more than Tuhog. Kriminal sa Barrio Concepcion was a murder mystery about a certain tabloid reported named Angel something. Anyway, the murder was just the starting off point, the bigger story was the things that led up to the murder, which was very similar to Batang Westside in plot structure, though not in detail. Both KSBC and Batang Westside were written and directed by Lav Diaz. What unfolds is a kidnapping case of dastardly consequences, but i will not reveal more.

What I liked about the movie, was the sincerity of the people. Each character wanted to do his best, but they had their failings. And even if they couldn't do what they really wanted to do, they still tried to do what was right. From the very beginning of the movie, the character played by Angel Aquino (who wasn't the murdered Angel, by the way), right away confronts a congressman with so many questions, that the congressman is overwhelmed and dismisses her as soon as he can, and so she cries in frustration. What was beautiful was the sincerity and passion with which she pursued the questioning. We all want these answers from our politicians, but they never answer them, and our reporters don't have the guts to ask them anyway. That's why I like movies, coz they live out our fantasies, and thus give us ideas about what ideals to pursue.

Anyway, after the incident with the congressman, Angel Aquino meets up with Raymond Bagatsing, whom she also dismisses because she was angry, not unlike what the congressman did to her, but only later does she realize, that she might have given up a valuable story. A thing we all sometimes do, doing unto others what others have done to us, especially when we don't control our emotion. Anyway, so the story continues until we realize the horrifying ending. I don't even know if they solve the murder, but the rawness of the emotion of the ending is amazing. And don't worry, Lav doesn't use shocking or gross things to get a reaction out of us. His power is in the story.

Which was not the same thing for Jeffrey Jeturian's movie, Tuhog. Hyped as the next Lino Brocka or very similar to Lav Diaz, I expecting a lot from the Jeturian, considering I have met the guy once, and he seemed to be a very intelligent individual. Unfortunately, this movie fails in so many levels. Supposed to be a satire of Filipino ST films, it falls prey to very same ST films it is trying to make fun of. And in the end, ended up very pathetic (sorry to all the Jeturian fans, it's just my opinion). Silly plot, really evil people, lots of gratuitous sex, I don't see the greatness people are talking about. It's the same old ST film. With social commentary daw. But so what, it's not like we haven't seen that before. But I am being rude. So in conclusion, Jeturian is not the savior Filipino film like the way Lav Diaz is. I haven't seen Pila Balde yet, but I have my doubts if it's any different.

Anyway, those are the two movies I saw today. Thanks, dude!